Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton resigns

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has resigned after guiding the state through the COVID-19 pandemic under some of the world’s toughest restrictions.

Professor Sutton will step down after four years taking on a new role as director of health and biosafety at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.

Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews thanked Prof Sutton on Friday for his service to the Department of Health over the past 12 years.

“For more than a decade, Professor Sutton has served our state and guided us through some of its most difficult times,” Andrews wrote on Twitter.

“As CHO, Brett helped keep us informed, and most importantly, safe.

“Thanks for your service and all the best for your next role.”

Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews (centre) thanked Prof Sutton (right) on Friday for his service to the Department of Health over the past 12 years

Department of Health Secretary Euan Wallace praised Prof Sutton as an invaluable leader and thanked him for his work during the public health crisis.

“Since joining the department in 2011, Professor Sutton has helped develop a strong and responsive public health team, providing critical health information and advice over a wide range of issues and emergencies over the years,” he said.

“He was appointed Chief Health Officer in 2019 and has led Victoria’s health response during the COVID-19 pandemic, playing a key role in keeping the community safe and informed.”

Prof Sutton first joined the Department of Health in 2011 and was appointed Chief Health Officer in 2019.

He became a familiar face during the pandemic, often appearing alongside the prime minister at media conferences.

Professor Sutton became a familiar face during the pandemic, often appearing at media conferences alongside the Prime Minister (pictured in October 2021)

At times, Professor Sutton (right) has been marred by controversy, particularly after Melbourne had one of the world’s longest lockdowns, which he said were necessary

At times he has been marred by controversy, especially after Melbourne had one of the world’s longest lockdowns, which he said was necessary.

In early 2020, he became one of the first government officials in the world to acknowledge the health crisis after tweeting that a pandemic was “highly likely, if not inevitable,” sparking mixed reactions.

There were also previous reports of a threatened layoff amid internal clashes between himself and other health experts over conflicting views on public health regulations.

Prof Sutton was involved in developing parts of the framework to support the state’s disastrous hotel quarantine program and had expressed concern over the use of private security guards.

He previously acknowledged flaws in Victoria’s contact tracing system while appearing for a parliamentary state inquiry into the matter.